Blog break, Freeport, ME

6/2/18 . Freeport, ME

This is likely to be the last blog post for awhile...as we're no longer sailing on Grace.
We three - Amelia, David and I - have all been on land for a week now and Grace, the boat, is in the harbor on her mooring.

Amelia, kitty, is LOVING being on land. Even though we are in a different house for a couple weeks - same neighborhood - she is taking a morning constitutional walk down to the pond all on her on. Has a bunch of drinks of water, lays in the sand, then I arrive and we walk home together. And she roams the yard to eat grass, not being too concerned about the neighbor cat who wants us to adopt him.

She had a visit with her doctor today. Dr. confirmed that she was loosing muscle mass, has a racing heart which contributes to catabolism. I've noticed that she stumbles, but she still jumps.

We discussed healthcare options/interventions and will take none. We will help her live out her life as comfortably as possible. Dr. said keeping her hydrated will certainly help keep her more comfortable and we'll continue that. She also suggested how Amelia's diseases might progress, what symptoms were likely and how she might pass over. Makes me so very sad. AND she, and we with her, has had a great life span together...18.5 years and counting. I am so very grateful that she has lived long enough to get back to land home. She is much happier here, less bored, more active.

David and I are doing projects at our friend house as planned and promised. I am, as I've written before, moving back into life on land slowly; taking my time contacting friends and seeing people; actively considering where I want to be involved and where I want to remain...aloof...absence. I'm not yet ready to make any commitments. I did plant my flower pots and will, perhaps tomorrow, collect the tomato plants from my neighbor. It feels selfish. It is. But I don't want to just launch into what others expect of me. I DID dance this morning. Ten whole minutes of improvising after 20 or so minutes of stretching and some yoga. Delicious. And I've begun - again - reading Free Play: Improvisation in Art and Life. Perhaps this will be my morning meditation ritual...stretch, dance, read, notice life, practice joy.

So, expecting David and I will do a little cruising in Maine waters this summer but nothing extensive. I'm looking forward to visiting with friends and family, doing a little dancing/studying in July and laying pretty low for the summer. Of course, who knows what will be.

Our plan (always subject to change) is to put Grace up in our boat shed this fall/winter and do some renovations on her galley then splash her again next spring. So no cruising south on Grace this next winter. It's fun to look forward but not too far forward.

This moment is perfection. I am, we all are, surrounded by love.

Mallards feeding in the pond, butts in the air.
I observed that they have to paddle their
feet to stay un-side down